Rotatable track-mounted shutter blinds

ABSTRACT

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a shutter blind unit having an annular shape as a window with each of the side upright supports provided with an inner face having an upright slot therein as a shutter blind track with the slots of the spaced-apart upright supports facing one-another and there being a plurality of shutters mounted one over the other with axes of the opposite ends of each extending into and riding within the respective slots, within each slot there also being a plastic strip having a flexible edge biased against the axes to prevent gravity-pull falling downwardly of the respective shutters but being each shutter movable slidably along the track upwardly or downwardly by application of slight lifting or slight lowering force on the respective shutters, and each axis as it extends through the slot including a lever arm fixedly extending radially outwardly from the axial axis and being connected pivotably at its outer lever arm end to one end of one of two serially pivotably interconnected links and the free end of the other link being attached to a next adjacent lever arm end of a next adjacent axis, each shutter slat structure being fixedly rotatable with its respective axes extending from opposite ends thereof, and in a closed state adjacent edges of serially side by side parallel slat structures overlapping one-another to closeout the passage of light and defining seating structure to enhance the closing-out of light, and behind each slot on its upright support there being an inwardly extending shoulder blocking-out light between the end of respective shutter slat structures and the upright supports adjacent the slots such that in a closed state light is totally blocked from passage through the shutter blind unit.

United States Patent Music et al.

[ Dec. 10, 1974 ROTATABLE TRACK-MOUNTED SHUTTER BLINDS [76] Inventors:John D. Music, 738 Shore Rd.,

Somers Point, NJ. 08244; Patrick J. Edwards, 11 Park Ave., Mount Vernon,NY. 10550 22 Filed: Oct. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 410,426

[52] US. Cl. 160/172, 160/118 [51] Int. Cl E06b 9/30 [58] Field ofSearch 160/115, 118, 168-178, 160/165, 34; 49/51, 64, 73, 74, 86

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,621,723 12/1952 Etten160/34 2,957,520 10/1960 Howard 160/118 X 3,520,346 7/1970 Green 160/172X 3,658,112 4/1972 lmaizumi 160/172 Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bellspaced-apart upright supports facing one-another and there being aplurality of shutters mounted one over the other with axes of theopposite ends of each extending into and riding within the respectiveslots, within each slot there also being a plastic strip having aflexible edge biased against .the axes to prevent gravity-pull fallingdownwardly of the respective shutters but being each shutter movableslidably along the track upwardly or downwardly by application of slightlifting or slight lowering force on the respective shutters, and eachaxis as it extends through the slot including a lever arm fixedlyextending radially outwardly from the axial axis and being connectedpivotably at its outer lever arm end to one end of one of two seriallypivotably interconnected links and the free end of the other link beingattached to a next adjacent lever arm end of a next adjacent axis, eachshutter slat structure being fixedly rotatable with its respective axesextending from opposite ends thereof, and in a closed state adjacentedges of serially side by side parallel slat structures overlappingone-another to closeout the passage of light and defining seatingstructure to enhance the closing-out of light, and behind each slot onits upright support there being an inwardly extending shoulderblocking-out light between the end of respective shutter slat structuresand the upright supports adjacent the slots such that in a closed statelight is totally blocked from passage through the shutter blind unit.

12 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] DEC 1 01974 SHEU 10$ 4 370 llmulPATENIEi; 11mm 3.853.169

sum 3 or 4 ROTATABLE TRACK-MOUNTED SHUTTER BLINDS This invention relatesto a shutter blind unit having novel and improved utilities andadvantages over prior venetian blind type units.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION DISCLOSURE Prior to the present inventionthere have been attempts made toward obtaining a shutter blind ofsimplified structure and operation which concurrently rides on spacedtracks and can be turned at varying angles for ventilation andvariations in light regulation, but heretofore such objects have notbeen fully attained. An example of a very complex mechanism andaccordingly continued high costof parts and manufacture thereof andassemblying thereof is typically the venetian blind of U.S. Pat. No.2,645,282, and also typically U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,346. In the U.S. Pat.No. 2,645,282 there is a complicated clutch-like mechanism with varyingpositions thereof. In the latter U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,346 there is aflange connected to each shutter and the flange is mounted on a hingethat by a complicated mechanism is caused to tilt on slidable rings thatmay be pushed up and down a bar. None of these mechanisms offer what thepresent inventors consider to be the desired simplicity and low cost ofpart and assemblage, as well as not having the novel advantages obtainedby the present invention as described hereafter.

BROAD DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, objects of the inventioninclude the obtaining of the benefits of the types discussed abovetogether with other novel advantages.

More particularly, an object of the present invention include theobtaining of a compact track unit of shutter blinds having aestheticallypleasing appearance while being easily operable and being of few anduncomplicated and easily assembled elements.

Another object is to obtain a revolvable shutter blind which closestightly by freedom to rotate a full 180.

Another object is to obtain a shutter blind which overlaps a lowershutters edge such as to totally block line of sight and the passage oflight.

Another object is to' obtain a shutter blind which overlaps a lowershutters edge irrespective as to the di rection in which the uppershutter is turned to close the shutter.

Another object is to provide an easy and uncomplicated locking mechanismfor locking blinds in any desired point of elevation.

Another object is to obtain a simple and effective mechanism forretaining against gravity raised shutters at desired heights togetherwith ease of raising and low- I tion in angle on a fixedly mounted axisextending preferably through the respective opposite slots and eachextended axis including laterally radially outwardly extending axisstructure as a lever having pivotably attached to an outer portion ofthe lever structure linking elements linking together outer portions ofupper and lower lever structures of upper and lower axes of the varioushorizontally extending shutters, and there being included retainer meansfor securing the shutters at any desired point to which they have beenraised, and preferably also there being lock elements for securing theshutters imovably in predetermined positions of lowered or partiallyraised state or the like. Also, preferably there is provided overlappingseating structure between the adjacent edges of the shutter slats forobviating the passage of any light and also preferably a specialslidable slat which brings about overlapping irrespective of thedirection of tilt by virtue of the slat being slidable by the pull ofgravity, to slide on a shutter frame. Also preferably light betweenshutter ends and the support upright slot structures is obviated byshoulder structures extending inwardly into the window space along theupright length of each of the support upright slot-defining structuresto thereby block-out and thus obviate any possibility of lighttherethrough when the shutters are down and/or closed. Optionally theremay be also conventional cranks and/or cords or the like to raise and/orlower the blinds, or alternatively the raising may be by mere manualadjustment of the slats upwardly and downwardly as desired. In apreferred embodiment there is provided a plastic or other suitable striphaving a flexible edge, lineally along both slots extending into theslots sufficiently, or at least into the path of the oppositelyextending shutter axes sufficiently as to press against the respectiveaxes to bias the axes against the opposite walls of the respective slotsto thereby prevent the axes from sliding downwardly by the pull ofgravity on the mass of the shutter structures, but being typicallysufficiently flexible as to yield to light pressure or force serving toslide the axes along the respective slots. In another preferredembodiment, there are slanted notches in the face of the wall on one orthe other side of the slot such that the axes may be seated therein atany desired level or height as a means of securing the shutters at thatheight, or as a means of lowering from the top the shutters to aselected desired point. In another embodiment, the notches are along aseparate strip mounted in a biased state against the respective axes andhaving lever and handle structural elements for relieving pressure ofthe spring-biased notched strip away from the respective slots out ofthe paths of the axes thereby allowing the shutters to be raised and/orlowered. In a preferred connector mechanism of the outer lever portionsbetween the serially aligned axes, the connector includes two linkspivotably interconnected to one-another at one end of each, and at theremaining opposite ends of the respective links, being connected eachpivotably to the lever arms being interconnected by the connector, theintermediate pivotable link action permitting a full freedom of tilt ofthe respective tilt lever arms in the tilting angularly of therespective shutter slats.

Other features of the invention become apparent from the followingFigures and the detailed description thereafter.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates a typical embodiment of the presentinvention in perspective top and side view as a unit would appear beforemounting in a window or as a part of a window casing.

FIG. 2 illustrates an in-part cross-sectional side view as taken alonglines 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an in-part view in side cross-section of a series ofrevolvable shutters in a closed state, illustrating the interlockinglight-excluding features of the shutters of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates detail structure as to mechanism, in side in-partcross-sectional view as taken along lines 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is the same view as that of FIG. 4, except with theshutter-release lever in the down shutter-locking position.

FIG. 6 is a view which corresponds to those of FIGS. 4 and 5 but of analternate embodiment of shutter retaining mechanism.

FIG. 7, a view that also corresponds to FIGS. 4 through 6, illustratesstill another embodiment for retaining the shutters at any desiredheight.

FIG. 8 illustrates an in-part cross-sectional view as taken along lines8-8 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a side view as taken along lines 99 of FIG. 8.

' FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view in side view corresponding to that ofFIG. 9, the FIG. 10 illustrating the mechanism of operation to turn theaxes on which the shuttes are fixedly mounted.

FIG. 11 is an in-part side view corresponding to that of FIG. 9, butFIG. 11 representing an alternate and preferred embodiment having linksrather than a chain type of connectors.

FIG. 12 corresponds to that of FIG. 10, except FIG. 12 illustrating themechanism of operation of the FIG. 11 embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates the typical appearance of the FIG. 11 embodimentwhen the shutters are raised from the bottom to become compacted one ontop of the other, the view corresponding to that of FIGS. 11 and 12.

FIG. 14 illustrates diagrammatically in an in-part view in sideperspective overhead view, a preferred shutter blind, illustratingsolely the shutters devoid of frame illustration.

FIG. 15 illustrates a part of the operation of the shutters of FIG. 14,in side cross-sectional view. FIG. 16 is a view analogous to that ofFIG. 15, except representing slanting the shutters in the opposite 180direction.

I alternate slat construction, showing the hollow nature thereof, aswell as slanted edges that meshwith shutters above and below whenclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. I illustrates a typicalembodiment of the present invention shown in side top perspective view.

FIG. 2 illustrates an in-part side view in partial crosssection as takenalong lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates in side cross-sectional view the typicalinter-locking appearance of the shutter blinds of each of FIGS. 1 and 2when in a closed state.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view in in-part cross-section of theembodiment of FIG. 1 as taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a different state of being of the embodiment of FIG.4, in a corresponding view thereof.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment to that of FIGS. 1 through 5,in a viewcorresponding to that of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates still another embodiment in a view corresponding tothat of each of FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates a view as taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 1, in partialcross-section.

FIG. 9 illustrates a more complete side view, in partial cross-section,of the same side as illustrated in FIG. 4, except additionallydisclosing the lever arms fixedly interconnected to their respectiveaxis per shutter blind, and the connector chains.

FIG. 10 illustrates an in-part view in side view in a view thatcorresponds substantially to that of FIG. 9 except that the lever armsare shown turned to a different angle state of being typical of theposition to achieve the FIG. 3 appearance of the consecutive shutterblinds.

FIG. 11 corresponds to a view substantially analogous to that of FIG. 9,illustrating an alternate embodiment of lever arms and of connectorsthereof.

FIG. 12 illustrates a different state of being in an I analogous view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 11, in a state of being corresponding to thestate of being illustrated for FIG. 10 of that embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates in a view analogous to FIGS. 11 and 12, a state ofbeing of that embodiment when several shutters have been raised to aposition such as that shown in phantom in the FIG. 5 embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates an in-part side perspective view of a series ofvertically arranged shutter blinds with their respective integrallyfixed axes and the lever arms thereof of the type shown in FIG. 11, inwhich the respective shutter blinds each have a preferred constructionincluding a slidable face for overlapping shutter blind structure beloweach respective shutter blind.

FIG. 15 illustrates a side cross-sectional view as taken along lines15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 illustrates a view analogous to that of FIG. 15, except in astate'of being of a different angle at 180 turn from that of FIG. 15,such that the slidable face slides in the opposite direction to that ofFIG. 15, as controlled by the pull of gravity.

FIG. 17 illustrates a typical back-side perspective side view of theembodiment of FIGS. 14 through 16, in exploded view.

FIG. 18 illustrates an alternate embodiment to that of FIG. 17, in ananalogous view thereof, for effecting the slid mechanism.

FIG. 19 illustrates still another embodiment to that of FIGS. 18 and 19,in which the slide mechanism is effected.

FIG. 20 illustrates a shutter blind in cross-section of anotherembodiment of the invention.

illustrate one particular embodiment of the present invention indifferent and varying views thereof. In FIG.

whereby lower axes are suspended from the upper axes.

The respective axes 26a and 26b ride in their respective slots 28a and28b, the slot 28a being defined between forward member a and rearwardmember 29a, and similarly the slot 28b being defined between forwardmember 30b and rearward member 29b. Lock mechanism 31a in the forwardface of member 30a with the key 31aa, correspond to the lock mechanism31b in the forward face of member 30b with the key 3lbb, the flange 31bbeing revolvable around a central point with and upon the turning of thekey 3lbb in the cylinder 31b such that the flange 31b is lockableretainably over. the lower-most axis of the axes 26b; in a similarmanner, a lower most axis 26a is lockable by a flange 31a (see FIG. 8)of the cylinder 31a. Other lock structures of cylinders 32a and 32b areconstructed and operate according to analogous principles, andconstruction. In parallel alignment extending vertically along side eachrespectively ofsides 29a and 29b, are the respective downwardlyrecessed-notched slide strips 33a (FIG. 4) and 33b (FIG. 1) having notchseats 34a (FIG. 4) and 34b (FIG. 1) respectively for the seating thereinof axes 26a and 26b respectively at any point of elevation asillustrated in FIG. 5. Each of slide strips 330 and 33b include upperthrough-slots 350 (FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) and b (not visibly illustrated)angled downwardly and forwardly from a rearward high point eachrespectively, and lower through slots 35c and 35d of FIGS. 4(and 5) and1 respectively. Each of strips 33a and 33b ride slidably on keys such as54a for slot 35a and 54b for 35a slot, other keys and slots being ofcorresponding numbers. Accordingly each strip 33a and 33b movesforwardly by virtue of each of gravity and/or biasing spring(s) 46 (SeeFIGS. 4, 5, 6, and- 7), whereby when pressed or lowered forwardly theaxes 26a and 26b respectively become seated in the seats or recessesalong the edge of the strip. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, lever38 in the upward state of FIG. 4 pivotably on axis pin 44 holds line inthe downwardly-pulled and locked state with the strip 33a locked in anupward state by virtue of the line 40 having passed the center ofgravity-pull for lever 38 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

continuously biased against the axes 26a sufficiently to prevent upwardand downward movement of the shutters except when upward and downwardpressures one or the other is applied to the shutter blinds to raise orlower respectively the shutter blinds or a part thereof. FIG. 8 has beendescribed with reference to parts formerly discussed.

FIG. 9 illustrates how the cord ends 37a and 37b are continuous withone-another and envelope the anglecontrol wheel 49 (See FIGS. 1 and 9),the wheel 49 being fixedly anchored to the lever top arm such that thearm 50 turns with the wheel 49. The extenderprojections 51 serve to makepossible a full 180 degree turn of each of the shutters and axes thereofwithout interruption of the chain connectors with one-another, in themanner shown in FIG. 10. FIGS. 11 and 12 represent a preferred connectorarms embodiment with upper connectors 53 and lower connectors 52, havingelbow stop flanges 53' and 52' limiting inward move ment of the elbowsection thereof. FIGS. 12 and 13, respectively, illustrate the extendedclosed state and the compacted raised-position state each respectivelyof the embodiment of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a shutter blindconstruction in which a slide member will slide-by-gravity pull tooverlap a lower shutter blind to thereby prevent any passing of lightbetween adjacent shutter blinds and as well to overlap shutter blindstructure of the next-below shutter blind in the same manner asillustrated in the embodiment (of different construction) of FIG. 3,with meshing edges.

FIGS. 15 and 16 each respectively illustrate the direction of slide asdependent upon the direction in which the particular shutter blind hasbeen rotated, the

FIG. 16 representing a 180 turn from that of FIG. 15, when rotated indirection 59 the slide member 25b sliding in direction 57 and whenrotated in direction 60 the member 25b sliding in direction 58 on pinsin slots (through-slots) 56. For improved understanding, the structuresof FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 are shown in exploded view in FIG. 17. .Theembodiment of FIG. 18 having face 25aa and U-shaped flange 61a withinsert opening 62a (shown in phantom) and its slide-slot 62", has a moreneat (no apertures) forward face 25aa, as compared to the member 25ahaving forward face through-slots therethrough. In the FIG. 18 embodiment, the slide member fits betweenthe main body of the forward face 25aaand the rearward flange 61a. In

Upon a lowering of the lever 38 as in FIG. 5, the strip 33a is loweredsuch that the respective axes are caused to become seated within seats34a as the structure of the seats transverses the slot 280, the handlemoving in aperture 39. The embodiment of FIG. 6 differs principally inthat the strip 33 is always biased against the axes 26a and because itis 'not fixedly locked but merely spring biased is intermittentlyreciprocatable by mere upward or downward light pressures on the axes26a shutter blinds may be lowered or raised at will without thenecessity of locking or unlocking the strip from its biased positionacross the slot 28a. FIG. 5 embodiment need not be unlocked to raiseshutters, but must be unlocked to lower the shutter blinds. In FIG. 7,there is provided a plastic strip 33' (not necessarily plastic butpreferably plastic) having a smooth forward edge 48 the FIG. 19embodiment, the position of the slide member 610a corresponds to that ofFIG. 18, except that an end flange is located on each of opposite endsof the slide member 6laa, and each end flange has an insertion slot 62afor the axis 26" of squared cross-section over which the end flange isslidable by virtue of slot 62".

' The FIG. 20 shutter-blind embodiment in side crosssectional viewillustrates an alternate embodiment having slanted edges 64a and 64b formesh-seating with adjacent shutter blinds in the closed shutter-blindstate in an over-lapping state to better exclude all light, and hashollow spaces 65a and 65b effecting lighter weight, with cross-members66a and 66b imparting strength and rigidity thereto as well as providingupper and lower supports between which a shutter axis such as member 61of FIG. 17 is receivable.

From each rearward edge of respectively structures 29a and 29b, flangestrips 67a and 67b (see FIGS. 1 and 7 8) extend laterally inwardly toblock light from passing the ends of the respective shutter strips.

The shutter axis may be a continuous bar preferably hollow and ispreferably metal, as an antiburglar bardevice.

It is within the scope of the present invention to make modificationsand substitutions of equivalents within ordinary skill.

We claim:

l.'A shutter device comprising, in combination: a support structuredefining two spaced-apart track structures each track structure defininga forward wall and a rearward wall, the forward and rearward walls beingspaced-apart a predetermined slot distance defining a slot therebetween,with the slot defined by one of the track structures being spacedlaterally from and opposite to the slot of the other of the trackstructures, each slot extending substantially uprightly; a plurality ofside by side shutter means each about horizontally extending insubstantially parallel alignment and in substantially series withone-another, the opposite ends of each shutter means being mountedslidably to and fro within and along the respective opposite slots, eachshutter means including extending from each of opposite ends thereof an'axis structure extending longitudinally the opposite end axes beingabout coaxial to oneanother, and the shutter means further including anelongated slat structure fixedly mounted to and between the coaxial axesat opposite ends of the slat structure; and connector meansinterconnecting in series, for each of the opposite ends of each shuttermeans, side by side axes slidably mounted within a common one of theslots, there being a separate connector means interconnecting each twoserially arranged axes pivotably attached at one end of the connectormeans to one of the interconnected two and pivotably attached at anopposite end of the connector means to the'other of the two, such thateach lower one of the plurality is suspended from an immediatelyaboveshutter means-in juxtaposition therewith, each axis of each shuttermeans including lever structure fixedly extending transversely radiallyoutwardly from the longitudinal axial axis of the axis structure and therespective axis structure being connected at its radially outward endportion to said connector connected thereto such that the each .slatstructure is rotatable with the axes thereof by movement of theconnector means.

2. A shutter device of claim 1, including positioning means forpositioning the plurality intermittently along the opposite slots, suchthat the bottom or lower slat structure may be varied at alternatepredetermined heights along the opposite slots.

3-.-A shutter device of claim 2, including locking means for locking theplurality of shutter means at predetermined positions against further toand fro movement along the respective opposite slots.

4. A shutter device of claim 3, in which the upright trackstructureseach include a laterally inwardly extending shoulder such that therespective shoulders of the opposite track structures extend towardoneanother, each shoulder being spaced rearward from and parallel toeach respective slot of its respective track structure whereby when theseries of shutter means are turned to a closed position, light isblocked from passing between the ends of the slat structures and thetrack structures.

means are each of predetermined length dimensions such that respectiveseries of interconnected shutter means are positioned to overlapone-another when the respective slat structures are turned to aclosed-blind state whereby passage of light is obviated between adjacentparallel slat structures.

6. A shutterdevice of claim 5, in which the respective shutter means arestructured such that in a closed shutter state, the edge of one shuttermeans defines a seatrecess receivable of an adjacent edge of a nextserially mounted shutter means, and such that an edge of each shuttermeans opposite from its respective seat-recess edge defines an edgestructure seatable in a seat-recess of a next serially mounted shuttermeans.

7. A shutterdevice of claim 6, in which connector means comprises inseries two link structures having one end of each pivotablyinterconnected with one end of the other and having the opposite end ofone link structure connected to the lever structure of one shutter meansand the opposite end of the other link structure connected to the leverstructure of the other shut-- ter means.

8. A shutter device of claim 5, in which each shutter structure includesa slidably'mounted slat element of elongated flat narrow shape andincludes slat-element mounting structure providing for to and frosliding freedom of movement by gravity in a transverse direction acrossthe width of each shutter means whereby in a closed state of theplurality each slat element overlaps an'upper edge of the shutter meanstherebeneath.

9. A shutter device of claim 2, in which the positioning means includesa series of downwardly slanted indentation seats of widths each greaterthan respective diameters of the respective axes, the angularindentation seats being in series with one-another along a face ofslot-defining wall structure facing the respective axes such that therespective axes are seatably receivable within the indentation seatswhereby raised lower shutter structures may be retainably seated at anypredetermined height.

10. A shutter device of claim 2, in which the positioning means includesa toothed elongated structure having teeth along one edge thereoflongitudinally and the toothed structure being positioned adjacent theslot, there being a separate toothed structure for each track meansslot, in including toothed-structure mounting means and spring-biasingmeans and lever means for each toothed structure such that the toothedstructure is biased normally against the respective axes to hold theaxes in a predetermined position alongits respective slot and the handlemeans being structured and pos'itioned to actuate a toothed structurelever against biasing action of the spring-biasing means to therebyrelieve pressure against the axes whereby the lower shutter means may beraised or lowered to and fro.

l l. A shutter device of claim 2, in which the positioning meansincludes a flexible strip mounted within each track structure slothaving a flexible edge of the flexible strip biased against the axessuch that the axes are forcibly slidable along the slots but areretained against movement along-the slots against gravity.

12. A shutter device of claim 3, in which the locking means comprises alock lever arm insertable between at least two serially connected onesof the axes.

1. A shutter device comprising, in combination: a support structuredefining two spaced-apart track structures each track structure defininga forward wall and a rearward wall, the forward and rearward walls beingspaced-apart a predetermined slot distance defining a slot therebetween,with the slot defined by one of the track structures being spacedlaterally from and opposite to the slot of the other of the trackstructures, each slot extending substantially uprightly; a plurality ofside by side shutter means each about horizontally extending insubstantially parallel alignment and in substantially series withone-anOther, the opposite ends of each shutter means being mountedslidably to and fro within and along the respective opposite slots, eachshutter means including extending from each of opposite ends thereof anaxis structure extending longitudinally the opposite end axes beingabout coaxial to oneanother, and the shutter means further including anelongated slat structure fixedly mounted to and between the coaxial axesat opposite ends of the slat structure; and connector meansinterconnecting in series, for each of the opposite ends of each shuttermeans, side by side axes slidably mounted within a common one of theslots, there being a separate connector means interconnecting each twoserially arranged axes pivotably attached at one end of the connectormeans to one of the interconnected two and pivotably attached at anopposite end of the connector means to the other of the two, such thateach lower one of the plurality is suspended from an immediately-aboveshutter means in juxtaposition therewith, each axis of each shuttermeans including lever structure fixedly extending transversely radiallyoutwardly from the longitudinal axial axis of the axis structure and therespective axis structure being connected at its radially outward endportion to said connector connected thereto such that the each slatstructure is rotatable with the axes thereof by movement of theconnector means.
 2. A shutter device of claim 1, including positioningmeans for positioning the plurality intermittently along the oppositeslots, such that the bottom or lower slat structure may be varied atalternate predetermined heights along the opposite slots.
 3. A shutterdevice of claim 2, including locking means for locking the plurality ofshutter means at predetermined positions against further to and fromovement along the respective opposite slots.
 4. A shutter device ofclaim 3, in which the upright track structures each include a laterallyinwardly extending shoulder such that the respective shoulders of theopposite track structures extend toward one-another, each shoulder beingspaced rearward from and parallel to each respective slot of itsrespective track structure whereby when the series of shutter means areturned to a closed position, light is blocked from passing between theends of the slat structures and the track structures.
 5. A shutterdevice of claim 4, in which the connector means are each ofpredetermined length dimensions such that respective series ofinterconnected shutter means are positioned to overlap one-another whenthe respective slat structures are turned to a closed-blind statewhereby passage of light is obviated between adjacent parallel slatstructures.
 6. A shutter device of claim 5, in which the respectiveshutter means are structured such that in a closed shutter state, theedge of one shutter means defines a seat-recess receivable of anadjacent edge of a next serially mounted shutter means, and such that anedge of each shutter means opposite from its respective seat-recess edgedefines an edge structure seatable in a seat-recess of a next seriallymounted shutter means.
 7. A shutter device of claim 6, in whichconnector means comprises in series two link structures having one endof each pivotably interconnected with one end of the other and havingthe opposite end of one link structure connected to the lever structureof one shutter means and the opposite end of the other link structureconnected to the lever structure of the other shutter means.
 8. Ashutter device of claim 5, in which each shutter structure includes aslidably mounted slat element of elongated flat narrow shape andincludes slat-element mounting structure providing for to and frosliding freedom of movement by gravity in a transverse direction acrossthe width of each shutter means whereby in a closed state of theplurality each slat element overlaps an upper edge of the shutter meanstherebeneath.
 9. A shutter device of claim 2, in which the positioningmeans includes a seriEs of downwardly slanted indentation seats ofwidths each greater than respective diameters of the respective axes,the angular indentation seats being in series with one-another along aface of slot-defining wall structure facing the respective axes suchthat the respective axes are seatably receivable within the indentationseats whereby raised lower shutter structures may be retainably seatedat any predetermined height.
 10. A shutter device of claim 2, in whichthe positioning means includes a toothed elongated structure havingteeth along one edge thereof longitudinally and the toothed structurebeing positioned adjacent the slot, there being a separate toothedstructure for each track means slot, in including toothed-structuremounting means and spring-biasing means and lever means for each toothedstructure such that the toothed structure is biased normally against therespective axes to hold the axes in a predetermined position along itsrespective slot and the handle means being structured and positioned toactuate a toothed structure lever against biasing action of thespring-biasing means to thereby relieve pressure against the axeswhereby the lower shutter means may be raised or lowered to and fro. 11.A shutter device of claim 2, in which the positioning means includes aflexible strip mounted within each track structure slot having aflexible edge of the flexible strip biased against the axes such thatthe axes are forcibly slidable along the slots but are retained againstmovement along the slots against gravity.
 12. A shutter device of claim3, in which the locking means comprises a lock lever arm insertablebetween at least two serially connected ones of the axes.